WO2020089050A1

WO2020089050A1 - Smoking substitute consumable

Info

Publication number: WO2020089050A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/079135
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kate FERRIE; Edward Ross SHENTON
Original assignee: Nerudia Ltd
Current assignee: Nerudia Ltd
Priority date: 2018-10-29
Filing date: 2019-10-25
Publication date: 2020-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 2021-04-29
Also published as: GB201817571D0

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an aerosol-forming article (e.g. a smoking substitute article such as an HNB consumable) comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a filter element wherein the filter element is at least partly circumscribed by a flavoured sleeve.

Description

Smoking substitute consumable

Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a consumable for use in a smoking substitute system and particularly, although not exclusively, to a heat-not-burn (HNB) consumable.

Background

The smoking of tobacco is generally considered to expose a smoker to potentially harmful substances. It is generally thought that a significant amount of the potentially harmful substances are generated through the heat caused by the burning and/or combustion of the tobacco and the constituents of the burnt tobacco in the tobacco smoke itself.

Conventional combustible smoking articles, such as cigarettes, typically comprise a cylindrical rod of tobacco comprising shreds of tobacco which is surrounded by a wrapper, and usually also a cylindrical filter axially aligned in an abutting relationship with the wrapped tobacco rod. The filter typically comprises a filtration material which is circumscribed by a plug wrap. The wrapped tobacco rod and the filter are joined together by a wrapped band of tipping paperthat circumscribes the entire length of the filter and an adjacent portion of the wrapped tobacco rod. A conventional cigarette of this type is used by lighting the end opposite to the filter, and burning the tobacco rod. The smoker receives mainstream smoke into their mouth by drawing on the mouth end or filter end of the cigarette.

Combustion of organic material such as tobacco is known to produce tar and other potentially harmful byproducts. There have been proposed various smoking substitute systems (or“substitute smoking systems”) in order to avoid the smoking of tobacco.

Such smoking substitute systems can form part of nicotine replacement therapies aimed at people who wish to stop smoking and overcome a dependence on nicotine.

Smoking substitute systems include electronic systems that permit a user to simulate the act of smoking by producing an aerosol (also referred to as a“vapour”) that is drawn into the lungs through the mouth (inhaled) and then exhaled. The inhaled aerosol typically bears nicotine and/or flavourings without, or with fewer of, the odour and health risks associated with traditional smoking.

In general, smoking substitute systems are intended to provide a substitute for the rituals of smoking, whilst providing the user with a similar experience and satisfaction to those experienced with traditional smoking and with combustible tobacco products. Some smoking substitute systems use smoking substitute articles that are designed to resemble a traditional cigarette and are cylindrical in form with a mouthpiece at one end.

The popularity and use of smoking substitute systems has grown rapidly in the past few years. Although originally marketed as an aid to assist habitual smokers wishing to quit tobacco smoking, consumers are increasingly viewing smoking substitute systems as desirable lifestyle accessories.

There are a number of different categories of smoking substitute systems, each utilising a different smoking substitute approach.

One approach for a smoking substitute system is the so-called "heat not burn" (“HNB”) approach in which tobacco (rather than an“e-liquid”) is heated or warmed to release vapour. The tobacco may be leaf tobacco or reconstituted tobacco. The vapour may contain nicotine and/or flavourings. In the HNB approach the intention is that the tobacco is heated but not burned, i.e. the tobacco does not undergo combustion.

A typical HNB smoking substitute system may include a device and a consumable. The consumable may include the tobacco material. The device and consumable may be configured to be physically coupled together. In use, heat may be imparted to the tobacco material by a heating element of the device, wherein airflow through the tobacco material causes moisture in the tobacco material to be released as vapour. A vapour may also be formed from a carrier in the tobacco material (this carrier may for example include propylene glycol and/or vegetable glycerine) and additionally volatile compounds released from the tobacco. The released vapour may be entrained in the airflow drawn through the tobacco.

As the vapour passes through the consumable (entrained in the airflow) from an inlet to a mouthpiece (outlet), the vapour cools and condenses to form an aerosol for inhalation by the user. The aerosol will normally contain the volatile compounds.

In HNB smoking substitute systems, heating as opposed to burning the tobacco material is believed to cause fewer, or smaller quantities, of the more harmful compounds ordinarily produced during smoking. Consequently, the HNB approach may reduce the odour and/or health risks that can arise through the burning, combustion and pyrolytic degradation of tobacco.

There is a need for improved design of HNB consumables to enhance the user experience and improve the function of the HNB smoking substitute system.

The present disclosure has been devised in the light of the above considerations. Summary of the Disclosure

At its most general, the present disclosure relates to an aerosol-forming article e.g. a smoking substitute article such as an HNB consumable comprising at least one flavoured sleeve downstream of an aerosolforming substrate.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides an aerosol-forming article (e.g. a smoking substitute article such as an HNB consumable) comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a filter element wherein the filter element is at least partly circumscribed by a flavoured sleeve.

By providing an aerosol-forming article having a filter element at least partly circumscribed by a flavoured sleeve (i.e. a sleeve carrying a flavourant additive), the filter element can be permeated with the flavour additive e.g. during storage and transport such that, upon use of the article, the flavourant is entrained within vapour/aerosol passing through the filter element. In this way, the user is provided with a flavoured vapour/aerosol which can enhance the user’s experience.

Optional features will now be set out. These are applicable singly or in any combination with any aspect.

In some embodiments, the aerosol-forming article is a heat not burn (HNB) consumable.

The filter element is downstream of the aerosol-forming substrate. The aerosol-forming substrate may be circumscribed by a wrapping layer e.g. a paper wrapping layer.

As used herein, the terms’’upstream” and“downstream” are intended to refer to the flow direction of the vapour/aerosol i.e. with the downstream end of the consumable being the mouth end or outlet where the aerosol exits the consumable for inhalation by the user. The upstream end of the consumable is the opposing end to the downstream end.

In some embodiments, the flavoured sleeve is a tubular sleeve that encircles the filter element. It may have an axial length that is substantially the same as the filter element. It may have a greater axial length than the filter element. At least a portion of the flavoured sleeve may be formed of an absorbent material e.g. paper or cardboard and may be impregnated with flavourant. Alternatively/additionally, the sleeve may be coated with flavourant on its inside surface (which will be in contact with the filter element). The sleeve may be formed of a non-absorbent material such a plastics material or a metallic foil coated with flavourant.

Herein, the term“flavourant” encompasses any natural or artificial substance or composition which imparts a pleasant or desirable flavour to the aerosol. The flavourant may comprise a natural extract from a plant source (e.g. fruit extract). The flavourant may comprise a derivative of a natural extract, for example a purified form thereof. In some embodiments, the flavourant is added to the article in purified or substantially purified form. In some embodiments, the flavourant comprises a flavoured compound or mixture of compounds. In some embodiments, the flavourant comprises a compound which does not occur naturally in tobacco, for example menthol or other organic aromatic compound. It may include menthol, liquorice, chocolate, fruit flavour (including e.g. citrus, cherry etc.), vanilla, spice (e.g. ginger, cinnamon) and tobacco flavou rants.

In some embodiments, the filter element further comprises at least one flavour pod to further enhance the flavour of the vapour/aerosol for inhalation by the user.

The flavour pod may be a capsule or micro-moulding. The flavour pod may have an outer shell which may be solid/rigid. The outer shell may be crushable or meltable to release the flavour from the flavour pod. The flavour pod may be substantially spherical. Flavour pods typically known as“crush balls” can be used.

The flavour pod may carry a liquid flavourant. It may include menthol, liquorice, chocolate, fruit flavour (including e.g. citrus, cherry etc.), vanilla, spice (e.g. ginger, cinnamon) and tobacco flavour. It may be the same or different to the flavourant carried by the flavoured sleeve.

The flavour pod may be provided at the axial centre of the filter element flavour pod. In other embodiments, the flavour pod is provided is provided at or proximal an axial end of the filter element e.g. at or proximal the upstream axial end of the filter element.

In some embodiments, the filter element is a terminal filter element provided at the downstream axial end of the aerosol-forming article. The terminal filter element may be joined to the upstream elements forming the article/consumable by a circumscribing tipping layer e.g. a tipping paper layer. The tipping paper may have an axial length longer than the axial length of the terminal filter element such that the tipping paper completely circumscribes the terminal filter element plus the wrapping layer surrounding any adjacent upstream element.

In other embodiments, the filter element is an upstream filter element provided upstream from the downstream axial end of the article. The upstream element may be circumscribed by the (paper) wrapping layer.

The flavoured sleeve may be overlaid by the wrapping layer or tipping paper and therefore can be used to contain the contents of the flavour pod after rupture within the filer element and avoid unsightly staining of the wrapping layer/tipping paper.

In some embodiments, the upstream filter element is provided axially adjacent the aerosol-forming substrate. In these embodiments, the flavour pod may be provided at the axial centre of the upstream filter element (so that rupture of the flavour pod results in wicking of the flavour into the filter element) or at the upstream axial end of the upstream filter element in abutment with the downstream axial end of the aerosolforming substrate (so that rupture of the flavour pod results in some wicking of the flavour into the aerosolforming substrate).

In some embodiments, the article comprises a terminal filter element and an upstream filter element which may be axially adjacent or axially spaced form one another. In these embodiments, the flavoured sleeve may at least partly (e.g. fully) circumscribe one or both of the filter elements. Alternatively, there may be two flavoured sleeves, each circumscribing a respective filter element. One or both of the upstream and terminal filter elements may comprise a flavour pod.

The or at least one of the filter elements) may be a hollow bore filter element (with a hollow, axial bore) or a solid filter element (with no axial bore). Where the filter element(s) comprise(s) a flavour pod, the filter element is preferably a solid filter element.

The or at least one of the filter element(s) (e.g. the terminal and or upstream filter element) may be comprised of cellulose acetate or polypropylene tow. The or at least one of the filter element(s) (e.g. the terminal and or upstream filter element) may be comprised of activated charcoal. The or at least one of the filter element(s) (e.g. the terminal and or upstream filter element) may be comprised of paper. The or at least one of the filter element(s) (e.g. the terminal and or upstream filter element) may be comprised of plant material (e.g. extruded tobacco). The or each filter element may be at least partly (e.g. entirely) circumscribed with a plug wrap e.g. a paper plug wrap.

The or each filter element may have a substantially cylindrical shape with a diameter substantially matching the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate (with or without its associated wrapping layer). The axial length of the or each filter element may be less than 20mm, e.g. between 8 and 15mm, for example between 9 and 13 mm e.g. between 10 and 12mm.

Where the filter element(s) is/are a hollow bore filter element, the or each hollow bore may have a bore diameter of between 1 and 5 mm, e.g. between 2 and 4 mm or between 2 and 3 mm.

The aerosol-forming substrate is capable of being heated to release at least one volatile compound that can form an aerosol. The aerosol-forming substrate may be located at the upstream end of the consumable.

In order to generate an aerosol, the aerosol-forming substrate comprises at least one volatile compound that is intended to be vaporised/aerosolised and that may provide the user with a recreational and/or medicinal effect when inhaled. Suitable chemical and/or physiologically active volatile compounds include the group consisting of: nicotine, cocaine, caffeine, opiates and opoids, cathine and cathinone, kavalactones, mysticin, beta-carboline alkaloids, salvinorin A together with any combinations, functional equivalents to, and/or synthetic alternatives of the foregoing.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise plant material. The plant material may comprise least one plant material selected from the list including Amaranthus dubius, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Bearberry), Argemone mexicana, Arnica, Artemisia vulgaris, Yellow Tees, Galea zacatechichi, Canavalia maritima (Baybean), Cecropia mexicana (Guamura), Oestrum noctumum, Cynoglossum virginianum (wild comfrey), Cytisus scoparius, Damiana, Entada rheedii, Eschscholzia califomica (California Poppy), Fittonia albivenis, Hippobroma long i flora, Humulus japonica (Japanese Hops), Humulus lupulus (Hops), Lactuca virosa (Lettuce Opium), Laggera alata, Leonotis leonurus, Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort), Leonurus sibiricus (Honeyweed), Lobelia cardinalis, Lobelia inflata (Indian-tobacco), Lobelia siphilitica, Nepeta cataria (Catnip), Nicotiana species (Tobacco), Nymphaea alba (White Lily), Nymphaea caerulea (Blue Lily), Opium poppy, Passiflora incamata (Passionflower), Pedicularis densiflora (Indian Warrior), Pedicularis groenlandica (Elephant's Head), Salvia divinorum, Salvia dorrii (Tobacco Sage), Salvia species (Sage), Scutellaria galericulata, Scutellaria lateriflora, Scutellaria nana, Scutellaria species (Skullcap), Sida acuta (Wireweed), Sida rhombi folia, Silene capensis, Syzygium aromaticum (Clove), Tagetes lucida (Mexican Tarragon), Tarchonanthus camphoratus, Tumera diffusa (Damiana), Verbascum (Mullein), Zamia latifolia (Maconha Brava) together with any combinations, functional equivalents to, and/or synthetic alternatives of the foregoing.

Preferably, the plant material is tobacco. Any type of tobacco may be used. This includes, but is not limited to, flue-cured tobacco, burley tobacco, Maryland Tobacco, dark-air cured tobacco, oriental tobacco, dark-fired tobacco, perique tobacco and rustica tobacco. This also includes blends of the above mentioned tobaccos.

Any suitable parts of the tobacco plant may be used. This includes leaves, stems, roots, bark, seeds and flowers.

The tobacco may comprise one or more of leaf tobacco, stem tobacco, tobacco powder, tobacco dust, tobacco derivatives, expanded tobacco, homogenised tobacco, shredded tobacco, extruded tobacco, cut rag tobacco, and/or reconstituted tobacco (e.g. slurry recon or paper recon).

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise a gathered sheet of homogenised (e.g. paper/slurry recon) tobacco or gathered shreds/strips formed from such a sheet.

In some embodiments, the sheet used to form the aerosol-forming substrate has a grammage greater than or equal to 100 g/m², e.g. greater than or equal to 1 10 g/m² such as greater than or equal to 120 g/m². The sheet may have a grammage of less than or equal to 300 g/m² e.g. less than or equal to 250 g/m² or less than or equal to 200 g/m².

The sheet may have a grammage of between 120 and 190 g/m².

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise at least 50 wt% plant material, e.g. at least 60 wt% plant material e.g. around 65 wt% plant material. The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise 80 wt% or less plant material e.g. 75 or 70 wt% or less plant material.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise one or more additives selected from humectants, flavourants, fillers, aqueous/non-aqueous solvents and binders.

Humectants are provided as vapour generators - the resulting vapour helps carry the volatile active compounds and increases visible vapour. Suitable humectants include polyhydric alcohols (e.g. propylene glycol (PG), triethylene glycol, 1 ,2-butane diol and vegetable glycerine (VG)) and their esters (e.g. glycerol mono-, di- or tri-acetate). They may be present in the aerosol-forming substrate in an amount between 1 and 50 wt%.

The humectant content of the aerosol-forming substrate may have a lower limit of at least 1 % by weight of the plant material, such as at least 2 wt %, such as at least 5 wt %, such as at least 10 wt %, such as at least 20 wt %, such as at least 30 wt %, or such as least 40 wt %.

The humectant content of the aerosol-forming substrate may have an upper limit of at most 50 % by weight of the plant material, such as at most 40 wt %, such as at most 30 wt %, or such as at most 20 wt %.

Preferably, the humectant content is 1 to 40 wt % of the aerosol-forming substrate, such as 1 to 20 wt %

Suitable binders are known in the art and may act to bind together the components forming the aerosolforming substrate. Binders may comprise starches and/or cellulosic binders such as methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and methyl cellulose, gums such as xanthan, guar, arabic and/or locust bean gum, organic acids and their salts such as alginic acid/ sodium alginate, agar and pectins.

Preferably the binder content is 5 to 10 wt% of the aerosol-forming substrate e.g. around 6 to 8 wt%.

Suitable fillers are known in the art and may act to strengthen the aerosol-forming substrate. Fillers may comprise fibrous (non-tobacco) fillers such as cellulose fibres, lignocellulose fibres (e.g. wood fibres), jute fibres and combinations thereof. Preferably, the filler content is 5 to 10 wt% of the aerosol-forming substrate e.g. around 6 to 9 wt%.

The aerosol-forming substrate may comprise an aqueous and/or non-aqueous solvent. In some embodiments, the aerosol forming substrate has a water content of between 5 and 10 wt% e.g. between 6-9 wt% such as between 7-9 wt%.

The flavourant may be provided in solid or liquid form. It may include menthol, liquorice, chocolate, fruit flavour (including e.g. citrus, cherry etc.), vanilla, spice (e.g. ginger, cinnamon) and tobacco flavour. The flavourant may be evenly dispersed/dosed throughout the aerosol-forming substrate.

The aerosol-forming substrate may be formed in a substantially cylindrical shape such that the consumable resembles a conventional cigarette. It may have a diameter of between 5 and 10mm e.g. between 6 and 9mm or 6 and 8mm e.g. around 7 mm.

It may have an axial length of between 10 and 15mm.

The cavity may have an axial length of around 3 to 7mm, e.g. 3, 3.5 or 4mm.

In some embodiments, the article/consumable may comprise an aerosol-cooling element which is adapted to cool the aerosol generated from the aerosol-forming substrate (by heat exchange) before being inhaled by the user.

The aerosol-cooling element will be downstream from the aerosol-forming substrate. For example, it may be between the aerosol-forming substrate and the upstream filter element and/or between the two filter elements. The aerosol cooling element may be at least partly (e.g. entirely) circumscribed by the (paper) wrapping layer.

The aerosol-cooling element may be formed of a plastics material selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The aerosol-cooling element may be formed of a crimped/gathered sheet of material to form a structure having a high surface area with a plurality of longitudinal channels to maximise heat exchange and cooling of the aerosol.

The article/consumable may comprise a spacer element that defines a space or cavity between the aerosolforming substrate and the downstream end of the consumable. It may be provided between the aerosolforming substrate and the upstream filter element and/or between the two filter elements. The spacer element may comprise a tubular element e.g. a cardboard tube. The spacer element may be circumscribed by the (paper) wrapping layer. The spacer element may have an external diameter of between 5 and 10mm e.g. between 6 and 9mm or 6 and 8mm e.g. around 7 mm. It may have an axial length of between 10 and 15mm e.g. between 12 and 14 mm or 13 and 14mm e.g. around 14mm.

In a second aspect, there is provided a system comprising an article/consumable according to the first aspect and a device comprising a heating element.

The device may be a HNB device i.e. a device adapted to heat but not combust the aerosol-forming substrate.

The device may comprise a main body for housing the heating element. The heating element may comprise an elongated e.g. rod, tube-shaped or blade heating element. The heating element may project into or surround a cavity within the main body for receiving the article/consumable.

The device (e.g. the main body) may further comprise an electrical power supply e.g. a (rechargeable) battery for powering the heating element. It may further comprise a control unit to control the supply of power to the heating element.

In a third aspect, there is provided a method of using a system according to the second aspect, the method comprising:

inserting the article/consumable into the device; and

heating the article/consumable using the heating element.

In some embodiments, the method comprises inserting the article/consumable into a cavity within the main body and penetrating the article/consumable with the heating element upon insertion of the article/consumable. For example, the heating element may penetrate the aerosol-forming substrate in the article/consumable.

The method preferably further comprises rupturing the flavour pod during heating of the article/consumable to release a flavour additive.

The skilled person will appreciate that except where mutually exclusive, a feature or parameter described in relation to any one of the above aspects may be applied to any other aspect. Furthermore, except where mutually exclusive, any feature or parameter described herein may be applied to any aspect and/or combined with any other feature or parameter described herein. Summary of the Figures

So that the invention may be understood, and so that further aspects and features thereof may be appreciated, embodiments illustrating the principles of the invention will now be discussed in further detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of an HNB consumable;

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of an HNB consumable;

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of an HNB consumable; and

Figure 4 shows the first embodiment within a device forming an HNB system.

Detailed Description of the Figures

As shown in Figure 1 , the HNB consumable 1 comprises an aerosol-forming substrate 2 at the upstream end of the consumable 1 .

The aerosol-forming substrate 2 comprises 65 wt% tobacco which is provided in the form of gathered shreds produced from a sheet of slurry/paper recon tobacco. The tobacco is dosed with 20wt% of a humectant such as propylene glycol (PG) or vegetable glycerine (VG) and has a moisture content of between 7-9 wt%. The aerosol-forming substrate further comprises cellulose pulp filler and guar gum binder.

The aerosol-forming substrate 2 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape such that the consumable resembles a conventional cigarette. It has diameter of around 7mm and an axial length of around 12mm. The cavity 13 has an axial length of around 4mm.

The aerosol-forming substrate 2 is circumscribed by a paper wrapping layer 3.

The consumable 1 comprises an upstream filter element 4 and a downstream (terminal) filter element 5. The two filter elements 4, 5 and spaced by a cardboard spacer tube 6. Both filter elements 4, 5 are formed of cellulose acetate tow and wrapped with a respective paper plug layer (not shown).

Both filter elements have a substantially cylindrical shape. The diameter of the upstream filter 4 matches the diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2. The diameter of the terminal filter element 5 is slightly larger and matches the combined diameter of the aerosol-forming substrate 2 and the wrapping layer 3. The upstream filter element is slightly shorter in axial length than the terminal filter element at an axial length of 10mm compared to 12mm for the terminal filter element. The upstream filter element 4 contains an embedded crush ball 8 (i.e. a spherical capsule with a solid, crushable outer wall) containing menthol flavourant. The crush ball has a diameter of around 3.5mm and is positioned at the axial centre of the upstream filter element 4. The upstream filter element 4 is circumscribed by a tubular flavoured paper sleeve 14 which is impregnated with menthol flavourant.

The cardboard tube spacer is longer than each of the two filter portions having an axial length of around 14mm.

The terminal filter element 5 is a hollow bore filter element with a hollow, longitudinally extending bore having a diameter of 2mm.

The cardboard spacer tube 6, the upstream filter element 4 and the flavoured sleeved 14 are circumscribed by the wrapping layer 3.

The terminal filter element 5 is joined to the upstream elements forming the consumable by a circumscribing paper tipping layer 7. The tipping layer 7 encircles the terminal filter portion and has an axial length of around 20 mm such that it overlays a portion of the cardboard tube spacer 6.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a consumable T which is the same as that shown in Figure 1 except that the crush ball 8 embedded at the axial centre of the terminal filter element 5 which is a solid filter element whilst the upstream filer element 4 is a hollow bore filter element having a bore diameter of 3mm.

Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of a consumable 1” which is the same as that shown in Figure 1 except that the upstream filer element 4 is a hollow bore filter element having a bore diameter of 3mm without any crush ball and the terminal filter element is a hollow bore filter element having a bore diameter of 2mm. The terminal filter element 5 is circumscribed by a second tubular flavoured paper sleeve 15 which is impregnated with menthol flavourant.

Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of a consumable 1” which is the same as the first embodiment except that the wrapping layer 3 does not completely circumscribe the cardboard spacer tube 6 such that there is an annular gap 9 between the tipping layer 7 and the cardboard spacer tube 6 downstream of the end of the wrapping layer 3.

Figure 4 shows the first embodiment inserted into an HNB device 10 comprising a rod-shaped heating element (not shown). The heating element projects into a cavity 1 1 within the main body 12 of the device.

The consumable 1 is inserted into the cavity 1 1 of the main body 12 of the device 10 such that the heating rod penetrates the aerosol-forming substrate 2. Heating of the reconstituted tobacco in the aerosol-forming substrate 2 is effected by powering the heating element (e.g. with a rechargeable battery (not shown)). As the tobacco is heated, moisture and volatile compound (e.g. nicotine) within the tobacco and the humectant are released as a vapour and entrained within an airflow generated by inhalation by the user at the terminal filter portion 5. The crush ball 14 containing VG can be ruptured by pressure to allow the VG to wick into the aerosol-forming substrate to modify the amount of visible vapour during smoking of the consumable.

As the vapour cools within the upstream filter element 4 and the cardboard spacer tube 6, it condenses to form an aerosol containing the volatile compounds for inhalation by the user.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or in the following claims, or in the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for obtaining the disclosed results, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

While the invention has been described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments described above, many equivalent modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For the avoidance of any doubt, any theoretical explanations provided herein are provided for the purposes of improving the understanding of a reader. The inventors do not wish to be bound by any of these theoretical explanations.

Any section headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not to be construed as limiting the subject matter described.

Throughout this specification, including the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the words“have”,“comprise”, and“include”, and variations such as“having”,“comprises”,“comprising”, and “including” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

It must be noted that, as used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,”“an,” and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from“about” one particular value, and/or to“about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by the use of the antecedent“about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. The term“about” in relation to a numerical value is optional and means, for example, +/- 10%. The words "preferred" and "preferably" are used herein refer to embodiments of the invention that may provide certain benefits under some circumstances. It is to be appreciated, however, that other embodiments may also be preferred under the same or different circumstances. The recitation of one or more preferred embodiments therefore does not mean or imply that other embodiments are not useful, and is not intended to exclude other embodiments from the scope of the disclosure, or from the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims:

1 . An aerosol-forming article comprising an aerosol-forming substrate and a filter element wherein the filter element is at least partly circumscribed by a flavoured sleeve.

2. An article according to claim 1 wherein the article is a heat not burn (HNB) consumable.

3. An article according to claim 1 or 2 wherein at least a portion of the flavoured sleeve is formed of an absorbent material impregnated with flavourant. Alternatively/additionally, the sleeve may be coated with flavourant on its inside surface (which will be in contact with the filter element). The sleeve may be formed of a non-absorbent material such a plastics material or a metallic foil coated with flavourant.

4. An article according to any one of the preceding claims wherein filter element further comprises at least one flavour pod.

5. An article according to any one of the preceding claims wherein, the filter element is a terminal filter element provided at the downstream axial end of the aerosol-forming article.

6. An article according to claim 5 wherein the terminal filter element is circumscribed by a tipping layer and the sleeve is interposed between the terminal filter element and the tipping layer.

7. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the filter element is an upstream filter element, upstream from the downstream axial end of the article and axially adjacent the aerosol-forming substrate.

8. An article according to claim 7 wherein the upstream filter element is circumscribed by a wrapping layer and the sleeve is interposed between the upstream filter element and the wrapping layer.

9. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the article comprises a terminal filter element and an upstream filter element wherein the flavoured sleeve circumscribes one of the filter elements.

10. An article according to claim 9 wherein the upstream and terminal filter elements are axially spaced by an aerosol-cooling element and/or a spacer element.

1 1 . A smoking substitute system comprising an article according to any one of the preceding claims and a device comprising a heating element.

12. A system according to claim 1 1 wherein the device comprises a main body for housing the heating element and the heating element comprises an elongated heating element.

13. A method of using the system according to claim 11 or 12, the method comprising: inserting the article into the device; and

heating the article using the heating element.

14. A method according to claim 13 comprising inserting the article into a cavity within a main body of the device and penetrating the article with the heating element upon insertion of the article.

15. A method according to claim 13 or 14 comprising releasing flavourant from the flavour pod before or during heating of the article by rupturing or melting an outer shell of the flavour pod.